The Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music has been integrally involved in Australia\'s first country music conference, which has been declared a great success.

Held in conjunction with the National Country Music Muster at Gympie over the weekend (August 24-25), the event attracted 40 delegates and an expert visitor from the international country music conference held in Nashville.

CQCM Director Associate Professor Greg Whateley said the Nashville equivalent began some 15 years ago with 8 delegates and now attracts some 70 delegates each year from all over the world.

The inaugural Australian conference featured special appearances by Assoc Prof Whateley, Phil Hayward (Industry Mentor for CQCM who is preparing a book based on conference papers) and Graeme Connors (Industry mentor for CQCM) .

Meanwhile, the 54th Community Cabinet Meeting in Gympie heard that $26,950 had been approved under the Regional Business Development Scheme (RBDS) for the Cooloola Regional Development Bureau to engage a consultant to determine the feasibility and develop a business plan for an Australian Institute of Country Music (AICM) in Gympie. ENDS For details call Greg Whateley via 0418 871 617.

Picture: Graeme Connors ... one of the CQCM industry mentors involved in Australia's first country music conference.